Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts in the final seconds of the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 02, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP
Tom Brady reclaimed top spot as the NFL’s all-time touchdown pass leader as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New York Giants 25-23 at East Rutherford on Monday.
Six-time Super Bowl champion Brady had been knocked out of first place in the touchdown standings on Sunday, when New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw for two touchdowns in his team’s win over the Chicago Bears.
But a pair of Brady touchdown passes at MetLife Stadium on Monday saw the 43-year-old quarterback edge clear of Brees once more with 561 career touchdowns to 560.
The Tampa Bay win improved the Buccaneers to 6-2 in the NFC South, while the Giants remain rooted to the foot of the NFC East at 1-7.
The Bucs had to work hard for the victory, though, and needed a superb defensive play from safety Antoine Winfield Jr. in the dying seconds to stave off the threat of overtime.
Winfield blocked the Giants’ attempted two-point conversion that would have tied the game after Daniel Jones connected with Golden Tate in the endzone for a touchdown with 28 seconds remaining.
Earlier, the Giants had taken a 14-3 lead after touchdowns from Dion Lewis and Wayne Gallman. Tampa Bay were restricted to two Ryan Succop field goals in the first half.
Succop closed the gap to five points at 14-9 with his third field goal of the night early in the third quarter.
Brady then picked out tight end Rob Gronkowski for a touchdown to make it 15-14.
Graham Gano’s field goal pushed the Giants into a 17-15 lead at the end of the third quarter, but Brady’s 561st career touchdown pass to Mike Evans left Tampa Bay in control at 21-17.
Succop’s 38-yard field goal looked to have made the game safe for the Bucs at 25-17, but there was still time for Jones to lead the Giants on one last 13-play, 70-yard drive for Tate’s touchdown.